Still More on Apple’s New CarPlay System
More news keeps dribbling out of Cupertino about what Apple’s CarPlay system can/will/might do when it comes to the next generation of connected cars. And with Tim Cook promising new product categories on yesterday’s earnings call, you have to wonder where automotive technology fits in alongside Apple TV, the iWatch and whatever else they have planned.
RAIN is following the situation:
Here’s what we know to date:
- CarPlay uses Siri, Apple’s voice-activated robotic companion, quite a lot to control CarPlay (calling up music, for example).
- At the same time, physical controls are implemented, either through the dashboard’s touch screen, knobs, or both.
- The driver connects the phone to the dashboard, and never has to touch the phone while driving.
- CarPlay does not replace native car functions such as radio and navigation — not all buyers will be iPhone owners, or want to connect a phone.
- The ways in which CarPlay functions mingle with native car functions vary, from establishing CarPlay as a discrete dashboard app to a seamless mingling of iPhone and native functions.
